Shower accessory

ABSTRACT

A receptacle held at a desired elevation by a rigid first valved tubular member that is in communication with a shower head supporting pipe. The receptacle is adapted to hold a quantity of a water-soluble material that is particularly adapted for application to the human body in the form of an aqueous solution. A second flexible valved tubular member extends from the lower portion of the receptacle and terminates on the free end thereof in an applicator. The receptacle is provided with a removable cover. By opening the valve of the first tubular member water may discharge into the receptable to form an aqueous solution, which solution may be discharged through the second tubular member by gravity if the first valve is closed, or under a desired hydrostatic head if the first valve is wholly or partially open. Should it be desired, an aqueous solution may be placed directly in the receptacle, rather than forming the solution from a dry receptacle-contained material.

United States Patent [191 White SHOWER ACCESSORY [76] lnventor: Edward A. White, 3200 Peralta Ave., Long Beach, Calif. 90814 [22] Filed: Sept. 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 182,013

[52] US. Cl. 239/312, 239/315 [51] Int. Cl. B051) 9/00 [58] Field of Search 239/310, 312, 315; 222/450 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,134,545 5/1964 Armond 239/312 729,678 6/1903 Schueler 222/450 3,012,701 12/1961 Weber 222/450 X 1,532,809 4/1925 Girard 239/312 3,049,303 8/1962 Kocker 239/312 3,367,580 2/1968 Hronas et a1. 239/312 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-John J. Love AttorneyWilliam C. Babcock [451 Sept. 25, 1973 [5 7] ABSTRACT A receptacle held at a desired elevation by a rigid first valved tubular member thatis in communication with a shower head supporting pipe. The receptacle is adapted to hold a quantity of a water-soluble material that is particularly adapted for application to the human body in the form of an aqueous solution. A sec ond flexible valved tubular member extends from the lower portion of the receptacle and terminates on the free end thereof in an applicator. The receptacle is provided with a removable cover. By opening the valve of the first tubular member water may discharge into the receptable to fonn an aqueous solution, which solution may be discharged through the second tubular member by gravity if the first valve is closed, or under a desired hydrostatic head if the first valve is wholly or partially open. Should it be desired, an aqueous solution may be placed directly in the receptacle, rather than forming the solution from a dry receptacle-contained material.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 SHOWER ACCESSORY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Shower Accessory.

2. Description of the Prior-Art For many years various water-soluble materials have been available that are applied to the human body as an aqueous solution, and preferably when one is taking SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A receptacle having a cover that is connected to a shower head supporting pipe by a first rigid, valved tubular member, the receptacle having a second valved flexible member extending from the lower portion thereof that terminates in an applicator. Either a dry, water-soluble material or an aqueous solution of the material is placed in the receptacle. I

By opening the first valve as the shower operates, water may be caused to discharge into the receptacle to dissolve a water-soluble material therein and form an aqueous solution of the latter. The solution, irrespective of how it is formed, may be caused to discharge from the applicator by opening a second valve. If the first valve is closed when the second valve isopened, the solution will discharge from the applicator by gravity. However, if both the first and second valves are opened or partially opened the aqueous solution may be discharged from the receptacle at a desired hydrostatic head. 1

A major object of the present invention is toprovide a shower accessory that is removably attached to a shower head-supporting pipe,and one that permits an aqueous solution to be applied to a desiredportion of the human body during the course of taking a shower, either by gravity flow or under a desired hydrostatic head.

Another object of the invention is to supply an accessory that permits an aqueous solution to be applied to the human body, with the solution being either in the form as purchased, or a solution that results from the mixing of water and a water soluble material, either prior to or during the course of taking a shower.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device removably secured at an elevated position to a shower head supporting pipe;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the device; and

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the device taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention A, as may best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a downwardly and outwardly extending pipe 10 that is disposed in a stall shower (not shown) and connected to a suitable source of water (not shown). Pipe 10 on the free extremity thereof supports a conventional shower head 12.

The pipe 10 upstream from the head 12 has a rigid tubular lateral 14 extending outwardly therefrom that includes a first manually operable valve 16 as an integral part thereof. Lateral 14 has a circular flange 18 on the free end thereof.

A cylindrical internally threaded connector 20 is provided that includes an inwardly extending circular lip 22 that mayengage the surface 18a of flange 18 most adjacent valve 16. A cup-shaped receptacle 22 is provided that has a first tubular, externally threaded boss 24 projecting outwardly from the upper portion thereof. Boss 24 is engaged by connector 20. When the connector 20 is tightened to the position shown in FIG. 3, the free ends of boss 24 and flange 18 are forced into pressure sealing contact with a resilient washer 26. The

receptacle 22 has a cover 28 that is removably mounted thereon and secured in place either by a frictional fit or'by conventional threads or fastening means (notshown).

Receptacle 22 has a second tubular boss 30 projecting from the lower end thereof, that frictionally and sealingly engages a first end portion 32 of a second flexible tubular member 34. An applicator 36 of desired shape andconfiguration is secured to the second end portion 38 of tubular member 34 and controls the flow of an aqueous solution held in receptacle 22 therefrom. The valve 16 is preferably formed as an integral part of the tubular member 14 andincludes a body portion 14a in which a rotatable valve member 14b of conventional design is rotatably supported. Valve member 14b may be manually rotated by a handle 14c. Should it be tremely simple after it has been installed at an elevated position such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a stall shower. The receptacle 22 may have either a dry, wa-

ter-soluble material or an aqueoussolution thereof deposited therein. When a dry material is deposited in the receptacle 22, the valve 16 is opened to permit sufiicient waterto discharge into the receptacle as to form an aqueous solution, with the valve thereafter being closed.

By opening the Valve 40, shown in FIG. 1, the aqueous solution may be caused to discharge by gravity through applicator 36 onto a desired portion of the body. If the aqueous solution is to be discharged from the applicator 36 under a hydrostatic head, the valves 16 and 40 are both wholly or partially opened. When the valves are so opened, a portion of the water flowing through the pipe 10 will flow through the tubular member 14 to provide the hydrostatic head, as the shower head 12 has a certain resistance to flow of water therethrough. This resistance in the form of a back pressure causes flow of water through the tubular member 14 a. a shower head for forming water into a spray as said water discharges therefrom;

b. a downwardly extending pipe connected to a source of water under pressure at one end thereof and connected to said shower head at the other end thereof, and disposed at an elevated position in said stall shower;

c. first rigid tubular member extending outwardly from said pipe upstream from said head;

(1. a first rigid manually operated valve in communication with said first member;

e. a cup-shaped receptacle having an upper and a first rigid means for connecting said upper boss to said first valve, with said first tubular member, said first valve, said first boss and said first means serving to support said receptacle from said pipe at a fixed elevation in said stall shower;

g. a cover that removably closes the open end of said receptacle;

h. a flexible second tubular member connected to said second boss;

i. an applicator mounted on the free end of said second tubular member and capable of being moved by the user to a position adjacent a desired portion of his body; and

j. a second manually operated valve for controlling the flow of an aqueous solution through said second tubular member and applicator, said second valve when closed permitting water to be discharged into said receptacle when said first valve is open to discharge water into said receptacle to dissolve dry water-soluble material therein to form an aqueous solution thereof, with said second valve when opened permitting said aqueous solution to discharge through said second tubular member and applicator, said discharge from said applicator being selective said discharge being by gravity when said first valve is closed, and said discharge being under a hydrostatic head when said first valve is wholly or partially opened and water is flowing through said pipe to said shower head.

2. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said first valve is integrally formed with said first tubular member.

3. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said upper boss and first tubular member have threads formed thereon, and said first means is a generally cylindrical, internally threaded tubular member that engages said threads on said upper boss and first tubular member.

4. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said second valve is of the clamp type. 

1. An assembly for use in a stall shower to either concurrently or separately provide a spray of water for shower purposes and means for applying an aqueous solution by either gravity flow or under a hydrostatic head to a desired portion of the human body, said assembly including: a. a shower head for forming water into a spray as said water discharges therefrom; b. a downwardly extending pipe connected to a source of water Under pressure at one end thereof and connected to said shower head at the other end thereof, and disposed at an elevated position in said stall shower; c. first rigid tubular member extending outwardly from said pipe upstream from said head; d. a first rigid manually operated valve in communication with said first member; e. a cup-shaped receptacle having an upper and a lower tubular boss projecting outwardly from opposite sides thereof, said receptacle capable of holding an aqueous solution or a dry, water-soluble material that is to be formed into an aqueous solution; f. first rigid means for connecting said upper boss to said first valve, with said first tubular member, said first valve, said first boss and said first means serving to support said receptacle from said pipe at a fixed elevation in said stall shower; g. a cover that removably closes the open end of said receptacle; h. a flexible second tubular member connected to said second boss; i. an applicator mounted on the free end of said second tubular member and capable of being moved by the user to a position adjacent a desired portion of his body; and j. a second manually operated valve for controlling the flow of an aqueous solution through said second tubular member and applicator, said second valve when closed permitting water to be discharged into said receptacle when said first valve is open to discharge water into said receptacle to dissolve dry water-soluble material therein to form an aqueous solution thereof, with said second valve when opened permitting said aqueous solution to discharge through said second tubular member and applicator, said discharge from said applicator being selective said discharge being by gravity when said first valve is closed, and said discharge being under a hydrostatic head when said first valve is wholly or partially opened and water is flowing through said pipe to said shower head.
 2. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said first valve is integrally formed with said first tubular member.
 3. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said upper boss and first tubular member have threads formed thereon, and said first means is a generally cylindrical, internally threaded tubular member that engages said threads on said upper boss and first tubular member.
 4. An assembly as defined in claim 1 in which said second valve is of the clamp type. 